Three out of four of Black Parrot Seaside joined a roomful of jolly folkies at this welcoming North Warwickshire hostelry last night. We were shorn of banjo mandolin and accordion as Mick had decided there wasn't enough golf on t.v. at present and was of on tour for a further fix of ball stick hole stuff. Lack Arrot Easide it was therefore who closed the first half, with Courting is a Pleasure/The Odeon/Albert Balls/Bedduff Bank. Rousing chorus singing, helped by the fact that the audience there knew these songs as well as we did!
You know,it has always saddened me slightly that a minority of Folkies living south of our part of Warwickshire tend to look down on Bedworth. Last night we joined some quality acts. The Miner's Arms in the town is one of several venues there. I worked out, whilst chatting to Malc Gurnham afterwards, that we had performed " On Bedduth Bank," our epic homage to the old mining community in something like nine venues in or around the town.For rivet counters amongst you, that includes The Civic Centre,The Con Club: The Black Bank, The Navigation,The Miners,The Rugby Club,and The Corner House. I don't reckon you'd get as many venues hosting live folk music in towns of comparable size in South Leicestershire or South Warwickshire.
Obviously, I'm biased. Warts and all my dad lived in Beduff for a while, and my daughter still does. Kenilworth,Rugby,Stratford Warwick or Oakham it aint. But last night (for free, with Doom Bar on draught and with superb pub grub added) you had every form of acoustic music imaginable. All delivered with passion, humour, intensity and real ability. On view were Artistes new to the area and old stagers like ourselves.
Malc and Gilly, (supplemented with various backing musicians),opened both halves. The usual mix of tuneful harmony balanced with Malc's relaxing guitar style. Brian Phillips, without Marie,sang a couple, as did Jan of Cider Annie. Already I'd heard "Long Black Veil" and "John O' Dreams"-two of my personal favourites.
Enchante, who had kindly invited us over to their club in Lichfield earlier this year, performed, as their name suggests,charming material. I mean-a roomful of people in Beduff, belting out choruses in French,and with the locals in the bar next door not batting an eyelid. Enchante featured a double base-as did The Somervilles-the main feature, and were on last. Two new artises or "Beduff Virgins" as Malc cheekily kept referring to them as-were Karen(?) and Graham. Both solo singers. Both confident performers,strong voices and with distinctive guitar styles.
What splendid chaps The Somervilles are. We'd last shared a stage with them at Coventry's Maudslay Hotel. They were impressive then, and excellent last night. I had a good old chat to them beforehand. Nice to meet up with others who admit that occasionally they forget the words, drop a note, have to have set lists and music stands-and don't give a damn! With our combined ages of about 7000 years we have much in common! Their set featured lovely harmonies, tastefully arranged songs and thoughtful instrumentation. All delivered with panache and enthusiasm.
They started with a version of a song we also do occasionally-The Poacher. Same words-different tunes. Our version is acapella. Theirs fairly romped along. Like us too, they do a Nic Jones song. I couldn't help feeling that it would be nice to share a venue with them again, as I think our contrasting styles and combined Jedi wisdom would compliment each other.
Thursday 21 July 2011
Tuesday 19 July 2011
The Miners Arms, Bedworth Festival and The Boat
Three of us are hoping to make a cameo appearance at a relatively new venue The Miner's Arms in Bedworth tomorrow. Part of a recently-launched "Free and Easy" Folk session.
One of the difficulties with being a four-piece band (as opposed to a solo singer-songwriter), is matching availabilities to gigs offered. You don't need to be a mathematician to work out that this quadruples the variables for us, making the probability of accepting a date much more hypothethical. Framed in clearer English-we find it tough finding days each month when we can rehearse/play a venue. We have to operate a matrix in fact, with all holidays,family commitments,work schedules, gigs etc, inked in, months in advance. It doesn't leave much free time for Folking about.
For example, at one time this summer we potentially had ten places who had either offered or requested an appearance from us. (This is besides those venues who have asked us to get back in touch with them for a return spot) Both The Crown and The Horseshoes in Nuneaton are cracking Real Ale pubs for example, who put on Live Music. Julian and Mark have both said they'd like to put us on at their pubs. The Boat in Newbold would like us back after our erm, triumphal debut there last month. (See below). The Blue Pig in Wolvey is always ready to welcome us back. Plus we had invites to four private Summer functions, (all declined) and longstanding floor spots offered at Hinckley Act and The Miners Arms in Bedworth which we've yet to take up.
Personally, I really regret us not being able to play together publicly more. It seems so ironic that we got back together in 2006 after a huge gap (30years) and we're now writing and performing together as well as ever. If not better. It's very frustrating that we cannot do more. Also, being so evasive doesn't go down well with some publicans and/or promoters-I quite understand that. Speaking for myself I'd be much happier doing at least one floor spot a week. However, the other three lads cannot manage that and as I don't play an instrument that leaves our options fairly limited.
However: besides the Miners, two new diary dates are confirmed for the Autumn. Like London buses-suddenly two come along at once. We are definitely on the bill for Bedworth Folk Festival in November. We don't know on which days or where. As soon as we do I'll put more info on here. And we're delighted to reveal that we'll be taking a fuller Parrot Show back to The Boat on November 21st.
I think we've proved with our floor spot format wherever we go that we can do traditional and comedy folk combined. However, floor spots mean that you have to minimise the visual, cut down on the gags and keep introductions short and sweet. Hopefully at The Boat and Beduff we'll be able to share once again with an audience, numbers such as "The Wag of Shop 14" with the immortal Ryton Spanner Dance, and that homage to Folk Clubs everywhere " The Septic Monkey" with its spoof raffle. It would be nice also once more to air (if you'll forgive the pun)"Manure." And "The Bold Pirate" alongside a canal would be apt. (Or should that be "aft"?) Doesn't everyone love a watery swipe at over-cautious Health and Safety bureaucracy?
One of the difficulties with being a four-piece band (as opposed to a solo singer-songwriter), is matching availabilities to gigs offered. You don't need to be a mathematician to work out that this quadruples the variables for us, making the probability of accepting a date much more hypothethical. Framed in clearer English-we find it tough finding days each month when we can rehearse/play a venue. We have to operate a matrix in fact, with all holidays,family commitments,work schedules, gigs etc, inked in, months in advance. It doesn't leave much free time for Folking about.
For example, at one time this summer we potentially had ten places who had either offered or requested an appearance from us. (This is besides those venues who have asked us to get back in touch with them for a return spot) Both The Crown and The Horseshoes in Nuneaton are cracking Real Ale pubs for example, who put on Live Music. Julian and Mark have both said they'd like to put us on at their pubs. The Boat in Newbold would like us back after our erm, triumphal debut there last month. (See below). The Blue Pig in Wolvey is always ready to welcome us back. Plus we had invites to four private Summer functions, (all declined) and longstanding floor spots offered at Hinckley Act and The Miners Arms in Bedworth which we've yet to take up.
Personally, I really regret us not being able to play together publicly more. It seems so ironic that we got back together in 2006 after a huge gap (30years) and we're now writing and performing together as well as ever. If not better. It's very frustrating that we cannot do more. Also, being so evasive doesn't go down well with some publicans and/or promoters-I quite understand that. Speaking for myself I'd be much happier doing at least one floor spot a week. However, the other three lads cannot manage that and as I don't play an instrument that leaves our options fairly limited.
However: besides the Miners, two new diary dates are confirmed for the Autumn. Like London buses-suddenly two come along at once. We are definitely on the bill for Bedworth Folk Festival in November. We don't know on which days or where. As soon as we do I'll put more info on here. And we're delighted to reveal that we'll be taking a fuller Parrot Show back to The Boat on November 21st.
I think we've proved with our floor spot format wherever we go that we can do traditional and comedy folk combined. However, floor spots mean that you have to minimise the visual, cut down on the gags and keep introductions short and sweet. Hopefully at The Boat and Beduff we'll be able to share once again with an audience, numbers such as "The Wag of Shop 14" with the immortal Ryton Spanner Dance, and that homage to Folk Clubs everywhere " The Septic Monkey" with its spoof raffle. It would be nice also once more to air (if you'll forgive the pun)"Manure." And "The Bold Pirate" alongside a canal would be apt. (Or should that be "aft"?) Doesn't everyone love a watery swipe at over-cautious Health and Safety bureaucracy?
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